Thailand has confirmed the first case of Clade 1b Mpox, becoming the first case of this variant in Asia and the second outside of Africa.
The infected individual was identified as a 66-year-old European man, who arrived in Bangkok from an unspecified African country and developed symptoms a day later.
This strain, which was initially identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has a higher mortality rate than previous variants, with a mortality rate of approximately 4%.
The outbreak in the DRC has resulted in over 450 deaths and has spread to neighboring African countries, including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda.
The spread of Clade 1b outside of Africa, with a recent case also identified in Sweden, has raised global concerns, leading the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare it a public health emergency of international concern.
In separate news, Singapore reported 13 cases of mpox Clade 2 infection detected this year according to the country's Ministry of Health.
Mpox is contracted through close contact and, although less contagious than viruses such as COVID-19, poses a significant risk.
In response to the case, Thailand is monitoring 43 individuals who had close contact with the infected man and requiring testing for travelers from 42 high-risk countries.
The vaccine, which is crucial in managing the outbreak, is in short supply in Africa, but efforts are underway to distribute millions of doses in the coming weeks.
